Leah Smith Snags Top Seed in…400 IM?

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Leah Smith grabbed the top seed spot in an unconventional event on Wednesday morning at the Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships. The new postgrad swimmer Smith swam a 4:36.90 in the 400 IM prelims, an event she is not known to swim at the national level. That time puts her ninth in the world for 2017.

Smith was followed by veteran Elizabeth Beisel in second at 4:38.78. Beisel is looking to make her sixth World Championship team dating all the way back to 2007. Beisel has indicated this is her last World Trials and has not stated any plans beyond 2017. NCAA champion Ella Eastin is seeded third at 4:40.56.

Brooke Forde (4:42.32), Brooke Zeiger (4:43.09), Ally McHugh (4:43.75), Bethany Galat (4:43.81) and Madisyn Cox (4:44.63) will also swim in the A-final. Galat is already on the team for Budapest after her second place finish in the 200 breast last night. Everyone else in the field is not on the Worlds team yet with the exception of Leah Smith. Screen Shot 2017-06-29 at 10.04.44 AM

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Thomas A. Small

6 years ago

Congratulations

Nonrevhoofan

6 years ago

Reply to Thomas A. Small

That is the most nonchalant face for a swimmer dropping an amazing 6+ seconds and seeded first in an event she almost never swam. Leah never ceases to impress. Keep up the HooMazing success, Leah!